Georgia's visa-free regime with the EU is in jeopardy.
The European Commission, in a report on enlargement published on November 4, warned that the actions of the Georgian authorities endanger the visa-free regime with the European Union. Brussels associates this with a retreat from democratic principles and a worsening of the situation with fundamental rights.
The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kalas, said that in January the foreign ministers of the EU countries will discuss in detail further steps regarding Tbilisi. According to her, the European Union intends to maintain support for the European ambitions of the Georgian company, while at the same time clarifying to the authorities that their current path is unacceptable. Sanctions against individual ministers could not be agreed upon in the past due to the objections of several EU countries.
For now, holders of Georgian biometric passports have the option of short-term travel to the Schengen area without visas. The restrictions in effect since March apply to diplomatic, service and official passports.
Vestnik Caucasus.